Overview & Suitability
The Cheatham Hill Road Parking Lot (historically recognized as Recreation Area #3 Parking) is a specialized outdoor surface parking facility located in the southern section of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Marietta, Georgia. Serving as a crucial trailhead, this lot is perfectly suited for recreational visitors, history buffs, and hikers embarking on trails like the Assault Trail, Old John Ward Trail, and the Kolb Farm Loop. The lot is fully paved and designed to accommodate standard passenger cars, SUVs, and light trucks. Because this is a dedicated national park parking lot, it is reserved for day-use park visitors only; overnight parking, camping, and RV sleepovers are strictly prohibited.
Access, Dimensions & Clearance
This open-air surface parking lot has no overhead height clearances, making it accessible for taller consumer vehicles and passenger vans. It features 68 designated parking spaces, which includes 4 dedicated ADA-accessible disability spaces. Accessing the lot is straightforward via Cheatham Hill Road, just south of the John Ward Road roundabout. While the lot is navigable for standard vehicles, larger motorhomes or trailers should be cautious of tight turns. A dedicated equestrian/horse trailer parking lot is located slightly further south near the intersection of Powder Springs Road and Cheatham Hill Road, so those towing horse trailers should utilize that alternative rather than this standard lot.
Parking Rates, Tariffs & Booking
In alignment with Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park regulations, a vehicle parking fee is required in this lot. The standard daily parking rate (site pass) is $5.00 per vehicle. For frequent visitors, an annual park pass is available for $40.00. Both physical and digital America the Beautiful National Parks Passes (Annual, Senior, Access, Military, etc.) are fully honored here. Visitors can pay on-arrival using the automated, credit/debit card-operated pay station located right at the lot. Alternatively, passes can be purchased digitally in advance via Recreation.gov, which ties the pass directly to your vehicle's license plate. Physical passes must be clearly displayed on the dashboard or hung from the rearview mirror.
Security & Amenities
As a federal day-use facility, the lot does not feature active physical security gates during the day, but it is regularly patrolled and monitored by National Park Service Rangers who perform routine compliance checks. Gates at the entrance are closed and locked promptly at the designated park closing hours, and any vehicle left after hours is subject to ticketing and towing. Amenities directly at this lot include a scenic picnic area equipped with 10 heavy-duty recycled plastic tables, a direct crosswalk leading to Activity Field 3, and immediate access to the park’s comprehensive hiking trail network. Please note that there are no trash cans along the trails themselves (pack-in, pack-out policy applies), though trash receptacles are located near the trailhead.
Strategic Alternative
The main Visitor Center parking lot on Kennesaw Mountain Drive is notoriously crowded and often reaches full capacity early in the morning, especially on weekends and holidays. The Cheatham Hill Road Parking Lot serves as an excellent strategic alternative. Parking here allows you to bypass the heavy traffic of the northern entrance while providing convenient, less congested access to the park's scenic Southern Trail Section, historical Civil War earthworks, and the iconic Illinois Monument.
Event & Venue Access: Traveling for an event? Check out full guide and rates for parking near Restrooms.
